March 25, 2012
I woke up at 6:00 AM very excited about the day I had planned for myself. I first visited White Sands National Monument during the evening of March 14, 2010, on Day 26 of the 72 Days of God journey. I had no idea at the time that I would return two years later.
My first visit to White Sands in 2010 allowed me to see the sunset, and this particular visit allowed me to experience the sunrise.
After a quick breakfast, I drove straight to the park. I arrived at 7:59 AM, paid my entry fee, and drove as far back into the park as I could.
Once I reached the very end of the road, I parked my van, got out, and began my morning hike across the white dunes. As you can see in the following photo, I ended up quite a ways away from my van. It was a beautiful, sunny, crisp morning, and I was thrilled to be in such a magical place again.
I located a comfortable spot in the sand, sat down, faced the morning sun in the east, and invoked the Heaven On Earth angel. I was entirely in my element while reciting the mantra, “Yud Zayin Lamed.”
One of my intentions while performing this meditation was to do my part to help cleanse the place where, on July 16, 1945, the world’s first atomic bomb was successfully tested. Still, I also wanted to thank you for being in one of my favorite places in the United States.
I couldn’t explain it, but White Sands National Monument fed my soul. It honestly felt like my very own heaven on earth.
I performed the invocation from 8:30 to 8:50 AM.
Once my invocation was complete, I snapped the following photo of the sky directly overhead.
To ensure that I captured the moment, I took another photo of the morning sun directly to the east.
I spent the next few hours hiking various nature trails, playing in the sand, and having fun with my camera. I reconnected with my inner child.
I even took off my shoes at one point and walked across the sand to create the following photograph.
As the sun began to intensify, I prepared for my departure. I took one last hike through the dunes before I said my final goodbye.
Once I departed White Sands, I drove 50 miles southwest to Las Cruces, or “The City of the Crosses.”
I happened upon Starbucks, Ruby Tuesday, and Outback Steakhouse in the same neighborhood. With lots of money remaining on my gift cards, I took the time to feed my body.
I spent the rest of the evening doing laundry, cleaning out my van, and just taking it easy. I also used this time to figure out my next destination.
I went to bed around 10:30 PM in a Walmart parking lot.